Earlier argument led to fatal brawl in Brockton

Tuesday

Jul 22, 2014 at 12:01 AMJul 22, 2014 at 10:34 AM

Lawyer for Brockton man charged with manslaughter says his client admits to fight, but he did not stab victim to death Suspect is held on $500,000 bail after his arraignment in Brockton District Court.

Benjamin Paulin The Patriot Ledger @BPaulin_Ledger

BROCKTON – Kathie Smith said it’s been hard for her to be at home and to look at her son’s bedroom the past two days.It was also hard for her and her family to be in court Monday for the arraignment of the man accused of killing her 22-year-old son.

David Smith was stabbed to death on North Main Street in Brockton on Saturday night near Perkins Park.

Tyron Coney, 23, of Brockton is charged with manslaughter after a fight between two groups of people ended with David Smith stabbed three times in the chest, shoulder and back.

Plymouth County Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague said Smith and Coney had an argument a few days prior, which was the spark in Saturday’s fatal brawl.

A witness told investigators the fight began Saturday night when Tyron and another man attacked Smith and two other people he was with, Sprague said.

“At that point in time, the witness said, the alleged victim pulled a knife out of his pocket and ran into the street away from the group,” Sprague said. “The group then chased him into the street and slammed him into the ground. At that point in time the victim yelped in pain and said ‘You got me.’”

After the brawl, another witness saw Smith stumbling down North Main Street bent over holding his left side yelling ‘They got me, they got me.” Sprague said.

Smith was taken to Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The following day, Sprague said, Coney went into the Brockton police station and told police “That dude had a knife and was coming toward me. I was in fear so I grabbed him. He dropped the knife and fell to the ground. He may have stabbed himself.”

Another witness account said it was Coney’s friend, not Coney, who had stabbed Smith, something his attorney Josh Werner said makes his client innocent.

“This man over here did not stab the victim. This man over here is not guilty of manslaughter or any other charge except for allegedly maybe punching the victim in the face,” Werner said.

Werner said Coney went to the police station because he heard they were looking to question him about what happened.

“Just like every person who just stabbed somebody to death would do, he picks himself up, puts his pants on and walks himself down to the Brockton police station to give them a statement,” Werner said sarcastically.

Coney gave his account to police and pointed out his friend on a photo array and told police ‘That’s the guy who stabbed the victim.’ Werner told the court.

Werner also questioned why authorities had not charged Coney with murder.

“If they believe that the stabbing had taken place during the period in time that he’s allegedly scuffling with him on the street, he’s got him in a headlock and they’re exchanging some punches, if he had stabbed him to death it would be a murder charge, not a manslaughter,” he said.

“This guy didn’t do it,” Werner said.

Judge Julieann Hernon set bail at $500,000 with a condition that Coney wear a GPS device should he post bail.

Outside of the courtroom Kathie Smith said it was frustrating to hear Werner’s defense of Coney.

“I was getting aggravated. But I was so thankful she was a good judge. I said some prayers and I said ‘God, justice be done’ and she was a good judge. I’m very grateful,” she said. “It’s not done. They have a lot more to go through. There was like 8 to 10 people involved in this so it’s just beginning.”